Issue with <Z> title being a pro-war Russian symbol

[dpld]

I have to preface this by that I was not able to find the appropriate forum section to post this while also retaining the visibility for the dev team. If anyone knows what is the best place to post it please say so and I will gladly move this to the appropriate location.

Me and all of my Ukrainian friends have a pretty big problem with a title that was added during the EW post-patches: the <Z> title.

During the invasion of Ukraine by Russia letter Z ended up being a symbol of the invasion and is now being used by war supporters online and offline to show allegiance.

It's basically turned into their version of the swastika - Russians will use the symbol in pro-war advertisements, publicly display it in order to show allegiance or just use Z as their signature in online messages to show their support.

You can read about the symbol here on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_(military_symbol), or just by typing "russia z" in Google you will find many examples of what I'm talking about. Here's an article about a person getting fined in Germany for publicly displaying the symbol on their car: https://www.dw.com/en/german-court-f...car/a-63556158

I tried to get over it, and yet, even two years after the war started I still shudder when I see the title in-game. I've spoken to a few of my Ukrainian friends who play the game and they also feel the same way.

I don't really have a good suggestion as how it can be changed, as to my knowledge there's already <Zero> title in the game, but I still want to ask to do something about the title or guide me towards the forum section where this could be seen by the dev team. Any help would be gladly appreciated.

[AmiableApkallu]

Me and all of my Ukrainian friends have a pretty big problem with a title that was added during the EW post-patches: the <Z> title.

Small correction: The title dates all the way back to ARR, patch 2.51.

System > Character Settings > Display Name allows you to turn off titles, if that helps any.

[Nezerius]

Oh boy, here we go again

OP, you're over two years late when it comes to outrage posting about this title. As can be seen here:

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...15-The-title-Z
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...Remove-Z-Title

[Cleretic]

It's a Gundam reference, and one that I don't think I've even seen anyone wear as a title. (Granted, it's a very small title, it'd be an easy one to skip over in a crowd.) If you see people try to use it as a hate symbol, that sounds more like material to report than anything, but honestly it sounds to me like you haven't seen people use it like that either and are just assuming that somewhere out there, people are.

Also, it wasn't added in EW post-patches: it's been there since 2.51. That was in 2015.

Also also, not really sure how this is lore. But it's also come up here other times... for some reason.

EDIT: Worth underlining, the Z used by pro-war Russian demonstrators is a very specific Z, it's not just 'the letter, at all, in any isolated context'. Back in 2022 Overwatch moved to remove that Z from a Russian character, but that's because... well, that character was literally Russian, and it was that specific Z. A title that's just the letter 'Z' holds neither of those associations.

[dpld]

you're over two years late when it comes to outrage posting about this title.

Nothing changed in those two years about this. Absolutely nothing.

Also also, not really sure how this is lore.

Where do you think would be a better place to post this? I haven't really used SQEX forums before.

the Z used by pro-war Russian demonstrators is a very specific Z, it's not just 'the letter, at all, in any isolated context'

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough. Pro-war Z is just that, a letter. Having no context added and just having a single letter there is more or less how they use it. It's a symbol after all - if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

and one that I don't think I've even seen anyone wear as a title.

I see it constantly on the EU. Once a day on average.

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

You are massively overthinking it. Even if someone secretly uses it for that specific purpose, you will never know unless expressedly told - the rest is just paranoia on your part. Many are just using it because it's the shortest title or because of how abstract it is.

The title's reference has nothing to do with today's misuse of the letter by foreign entities and should not be changed.

[Cleretic]

I see it constantly on the EU. Once a day on average.

Then report people once a day on average, if you really think that's what they're doing. Might need to poke the bear until they admit it, though, but if you're right, then they will.

But yeah, you bring up this stuff in General Discussion or something. The only thing you get from raising this in the lore subforum are people telling you the lore behind it--which is 'Gundam reference, also it's been in the game for nine years'.

[Magikazam]

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough.

No it not. That just paranoia from your part.

if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

Except the former is only used for that purpose, while Z is a letter of the alphabet and it's a Gundam reference. By your logic I could label Zorro as pro russian.

[Alenore]

In today's political climate just having this title on is more than enough. Pro-war Z is just that, a letter. Having no context added and just having a single letter there is more or less how they use it. It's a symbol after all - if you post a right-handed swastika and nothing else people will immediately think of you are as neo-nazi.

I understand where you're coming from, but are we to cancel Zorro because he signed his name with a Z? For how long? Are we to ban a letter from the alphabet to be used with no context ever again?
SS were a big part of atrocities commited by Nazi Germany, and yet we have SS ranks in game.

Out of the first page of titles I have earned, I can find "The Exterminator", "Warmonger", "Meat Shield", "Drone Sniper", "Soldier of Fortune", "Unbeliever".
All of them could be potentially problematic to the right demographic.

Should we ban "Unbeliever" because some countries would probably stone you if you were one, and it's offensive to them?
Or Soldier of Fortune because they take part in wars and kill innocents?
Meat Shield because it's reminiscent of how conscript are sent to frontlines to die and take good people with them?
The Exterminator because it could remind people of death camps?

Besides, the "Z" title is not with no context. It's a reward from an achievement, one some peoplemight want to show.

[dpld]

But yeah, you bring up this stuff in General Discussion or something.

Ah, I see where that forum is. I was looking for anything "General" to start off with, but only noticed the one under Information, which is locked to post into. Thanks.

You are massively overthinking it. Even if someone secretly uses it for that specific purpose, you will never know unless expressedly told - the rest is just paranoia on your part. Many are just using it because it's the shortest title or because of how abstract it is.

The goal is not to weed out people who use it intentionally - as I previously mentioned I do understand that it would be a minority. The goal is to prevent PTSD for any Ukrainian that sees the title in the game.

Thanks for bringing it up that it was a title even before EW, in the hindsight it's obvious that I only started to notice the title once war broke out. After that it wasn't that long of a stretch to connect it to Zero story.

I will not respond to the rest of replies as the people don't get what I'm talking about and just pulling at straws as an argument.